Installing speakers to a PC is a very simple and fast process, but in which problems can arise and you have to make the right decisions. In this article, we will discuss how we can do it most effectively and avoid problems. Let’s go there!
Index of contents
- How to install speakers to PC with audio jack
- Which connection to choose: preferably the rear
- Can’t hear: Driver problems or poorly selected device?
- How to install speakers to the PC via Bluetooth
- Bluetooth pairing process
- Install other types of speakers
How to install speakers to PC with audio jack
The most common PC speakers that we can find are those that use a single Jack connection, where the connector is usually green. Without a doubt, they are the easiest to install and the only important thing to take into account is the possible additional connections they may have:
- On stereo speakers and subwoofer speakers(ie 2.0 and 2.1) there may be an additional jack connection between the pair of speakers. They usually come together, but especially when there is a subwoofer there is usually a jack connector between the “satellites” and the subwoofer, which acts as the center of the sound system. It is important not to confuse these connectors and always use the one that should go to the PC. You can review the user manual to clarify this.
- If you are installing a 1 or 7.1 sound system,made up of 5 or 7 speakers and a subwoofer, you may have to use several jack connectors to install on the PC, they will be distinguished by being of various colors. This is not usual, but it could be the case. Soon we will see what types of jack connections are in a normal computer.
Which connection to choose: preferably the rear
Are you going to install the speakers in a desktop computer? Then surely you have several possible points to install them:
- On the frontof the PC case.
- In a connector of the monitor.
- Back, in the connections provided by the motherboard itself.
What is the best connection? From now on we tell you that the one on the front is the worst. If you are connecting the speakers for non-occasional use, the cable will get in the way. In addition, there are more chances of failure because from the connector of the box another audio cable goes to the motherboard. First, that cable doesn’t even have to be connected. Second, the closer we are to the board, the less interference and the fewer problems we will have.
So, the ideal a priori is to connect the speakers on the back, where the motherboard. There, you can find from 2-3 connections to 6 different connections, these are intended for 5.1 and 7.1 sound systems, and in the image above we show you what each one means. We have to connect the speakers to the green connection.
Some motherboards, for aesthetic reasons, have all the connectors the same color. Then, there is no other option than to pay attention to the indications that appear: the equivalent to the green connector is the Line out. In the image above it appears as “L-Out” and is marked in red. This is normal, because if there is a single connector that stands out, it means that it is the one for the speakers.
Another very viable option is to connect the speakers to the monitor itself, if it has this type of connection. This is the best you can do if you are going to connect, for example, a computer and a console, or two computers. You will not have to change the connection of the speakers at any time.
Please note that for this to be possible, you will need to have the monitor connected via an HDMI cable or DisplayPort cable. Traditional VGA and DVI connectors (” the long blue and white one” ) do not support audio signals.
Can’t hear: Driver problems or poorly selected device?
If you’ve connected your speakers correctly and you can’t hear anything, you should check that you’re playing the correct audio device from your computer. Obviously, check first of all that there is volume in everything and that the speakers are on if they have a switch, or plugged in if they need it.
How to get to the list of output devices to choose your speakers.
So to choose the playback device:
- Click on the speaker iconin Windows.
- You will find an arrow next to the volume. Hit it and all the audio deviceswill be listed .
Normally there should be a device simply called “Speakers”, which would correspond to the one on the back of the motherboard. You must try with each device, and what you can do is click on the volume selector, so that it goes to a high volume, since it will play a small sound so that you can verify if it works.
If you can’t find the device even though you have connected your speakers correctly, then you need to install your motherboard drivers. To do this, review how to know what parts your PC has and how to update motherboard drivers.
It is very rare that with Windows 10 and 11 you need to download the sound drivers. Please, if your problem persists, leave us a comment and we will try to help you.
How to install speakers to the PC via Bluetooth
To install Bluetooth speakers, the process is very simple to do. The first thing we need to do is learn how to pair a new device to our speaker. Typically this is done by holding down a Bluetooth button on the speaker, but it depends. Check the manual of your speaker well in case of doubt.
So, the next thing is to know if your computer supports Bluetooth. If it’s a laptop, sure, but if it’s a desktop, it’s very unlikely that the motherboard includes Bluetooth support, or that it has a bluetooth card connected.
The easiest thing for those cases in which the PC does not have Bluetooth is to buy a USB adapter. They are very cheap, and they work really well. We leave you a couple of high-quality Bluetooth 5.0 adapters above .
Bluetooth pairing process
Pairing a Bluetooth device in Windows 10 is very easy. If you have already connected your Bluetooth adapter, it should work automatically and in a “plug and play” way, or with drivers that the system downloads automatically.
To do so, just search for Bluetooth in the Windows Search Menu, and go into Bluetooth and other device settings. There, make sure that Bluetooth is activated and hit Add device. It’s time for you to put your speakers into Bluetooth pairing mode.
Choose Bluetooth, and wait for the device to appear. Thus, you can install your Bluetooth speakers without any problem.
Install other types of speakers
Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 Audiophile 2×2 USB Audio Interface with XENYX Mic Preamp
Compatible con Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7/8/10 y Mac OS X y
39,00 EUR
Last updated on 2022-08-13
There are many more types of speakers that we can install on a computer. For example, those that work with RCA connectors , for which we recommend a quality audio interface , or those that work through an optical input. In that case, many motherboards already have an optical connection for your speakers.
We recommend reading the best speakers on the market .
The process of installing the speakers on a PC is really simple. Remember that, as we have explained, you must always select the correct device: the PC could recognize several and try to play the audio through a connection in which you have nothing.
